Rev. Deborah J. Blood

Rev.
Deborah Blood is the Conference Minister for the Maine Conference, UCC. She was
ordained to Christian ministry in 2005 and served the First Congregational
Church in Bloomfield, CT, an increasingly multi-racial, multi-ethnic
congregation, for 10 years. She has also served as Chair of the Wider Church
Ministries/Co-chair of Global Ministries Boards of the UCC and has much
experience across National and Conference settings, including significant
involvement with the Racial Justice Ministries of the CT Conference, and with
their Korean and Colombian Partnerships.

As
Conference Minister in Maine since 2015, Deborah is focused on liberating the
Conference and churches from structures, practices and habits that prevent
engagement with the strong movement of the Holy Spirit toward the next version
of the Church. The Spirit is leading us,
and we need to follow, with confidence, courage and trust in God’s loving
intentions for the Church. The Maine Conference is Moving Forward Together
knowing that we are not alone and that we need one another as we discern our
future together with God. Our essential work in these times is listening for
the voice of God and opening to the new people God is calling into leadership.
This means looking to the margins of the Church and of society, and leaving
behind our prejudices – welcoming ALL to the Table and following whomever God’s
calls to lead us.

In a prior life, Deborah was a
practicing attorney for 15 years, focused on litigation, mediation and family
law. She has a passion for music, and loves to sing, having been a music
teacher in a brief early career. After many years of vacationing in Maine,
Deborah has joyfully settled in as a permanent resident, relishing every chance
to travel and experience the strong Spirit and beautiful variety of Maine’s UCC
Congregations. She is delighted to welcome the New England Women’s Celebration
X to Portland, Maine!!!